Updated: September 24, 2020 7:26:20 am
The Tomar assurances came even as informal talks between some high-ranking ministers and the Opposition on the bills continued Saturday with no progress. (Proceedings)
Rejecting the demands of inclusion of minimum support price as a mandatory provision in the contentious farm laws that were passed in Parliament amid protests, the Union’s Minister of Agriculture and Agricultural Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, said on Wednesday that while the government was committed to the MSP, before it was “not part of the law” and “is not” today.
Tomar also criticized the opposition parties and asked them why they did not include the MSP as part of the law when they were in power “for many years.”
Responding to a question during an online brainstorming event by The Indian Express, he said: “Through you, I want to tell the people of the Opposition that you all have been in government for many years, if the law was needed for the MSP, so why didn’t you do it?… MSP kanoon ka ang pehle bhi nahin thi aur MSP kanoon ka ang aaj bhi nahin hai (MSP was not part of the law even before and MSP is not part of the law even today) . “
In suggesting that the government will not give in to the Opposition’s demands on MSP, the Union Minister said: “MSP is an administrative decision of the Government of India and the recruitment has been done as a result of MSP. The Modi government had started declaring MSP adding 50% profit to cost. “
Despite the protests of Punjab and Haryana farmers, the government passed three agricultural bills during the monsoon session: the Trade in Agricultural Products and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; The Farmers Agreement (Empowerment and Protection) on Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services Law, 2020; and, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
The key objection raised by protesting farmers is against a provision in the first bill, which provides for the creation of a “commercial area” outside of APMC mandis. Farmers have expressed fear that if the mandi system comes to an end, the MSP mechanism would be eliminated as well.
However, with the government raising the MSP for six Rabi crops, including wheat, after the approval of the bills, Tomar reiterated that MSP-based acquisitions will continue.
“We have declared Rabi MSP before planting crops and the kharif harvest will be delivered in a few days, which will be purchased from MSP. The Prime Minister has said that the MSP will continue, so why does anyone have to worry? And MSP has nothing to do with these bills. The Bills deal with trade outside the mandi facility, ”he said.
READ | Supports farmers’ demand to legalize MSP as a minimum price, says ally JD (U)
Farmers protest in Patiala (Express photo by Harmeet Sodhi)
The government sets the MSP of 22 “mandatory agricultural crops” and the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane based on the recommendations of the Commission of Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
Defending the Bills, Tomar said the NDA government has made the decision in the interest of the country. “If a decision must be made in the interest of the country, then the Modi government is committed to making that decision regardless of the votes. These decisions have also been made before and will continue to happen in the future. I am sure that agriculture and farmers will get a lot of benefits from these bills, ”he said.
Later, speaking separately to The Indian Express, a senior government official echoed the minister’s views. “You cannot set the price of a commodity with a law. What will happen if there is a sudden increase or decrease in the price of that product? Will you change the law every time? “asked the official.
Furthermore, experts said, setting the MSP as a legal minimum price will derail the market for other players. In addition, they noted that when and if a government acquires which crop depends on a variety of factors that vary from season to season and crop to crop; codifying this into law could open the window to a lot of legislation.
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